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Birthstones
When you start exploring gemstones, you will quickly come across the topic of birthstones and zodiac gemstones. The assumption is that each birth month has a corresponding gemstone that possesses certain powers and brings luck to the wearer.
Whether this is true has not been scientifically proven, but receiving a bit of extra energy is always beneficial. Think, for example, of gaining extra courage during a stressful moment, such as exam week or when proposing. On this page, you will find more information about the various birthstones and their healing properties. Virtually all gemstones can be chosen for a piece of jewelry from DiamondsByMe.
What are birthstones?
These are the gemstones associated with the month you were born. Birthstones have been a concept since ancient times. It is said to originate from the book of Exodus, where a scholar saw twelve stones on a breastplate and linked them to the twelve months of the year. Additionally, there are many gemstones connected to different zodiac signs. It is believed that each gemstone has a specific healing property, and if you wear the gemstone of your birth month on your skin, it will have a positive effect.
Below you can see which birthstone corresponds to each month and what their healing properties are. Moreover, we offer more information about each gemstone except turquoise in our knowledge base. Click on the gemstone, and you will be taken directly to that page, or read the brief description of the various gemstones below:
- January: Garnet
- February: Amethyst
- March: Aquamarine
- April: Diamond
- May: Emerald
- June: Pearl
- July: Ruby
- August: Peridot
- September: Sapphire
- October: Opal and Tourmaline
- November: Citrine
- December: Turquoise and Topaz
January: Garnet
Courage – Authority – Faith – Protection – Purity
The garnet has a beautiful deep red color, derived from the seeds of the pomegranate. The Latin word ‘granatus’ means seed. The name of this birthstone is derived from this. In the past, knights and warriors wore this birthstone as an amulet, and swords and armor were also decorated with it. Garnet is naturally hard and was even used as bullets by Asian tribes in the past. A garnet gives strength and energy. Additionally, this gemstone provides perseverance and self-confidence. Garnet promotes hope, joy of life, and courage. It is a stone associated with trust and friendship. Like the ruby, red gemstones promote good blood circulation and intensify feelings. Garnet is a stone full of positivity. It increases the joy of life, strengthens the survival instinct, and provides courage. It is an excellent stone for crisis situations and hopelessness.
February: Amethyst
Beauty and prestige – Protection – Good for physical ailments
Amethyst has a beautiful purple color and brilliance. The name Amethyst comes from the Greek word ‘amethystos’, which means ‘not drunk’. In the past, it was believed that wearing an amethyst would prevent drunkenness.
Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and is found in countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, and Madagascar. An amethyst can be treated in various ways to enhance its color. It is also one of the most used stones for cutting special shapes in gemstones and has a clarity that allows the creation of the most beautiful designs.
An amethyst is also known as the stone of temptation. In the past, it was believed that the stone would help against temptation. It was also thought to help ward off spirits and inspire new thoughts. Leonardo Da Vinci once wrote that amethyst makes you smarter and cleanses your mind of negative thoughts.
Amethyst is truly a calming stone and one of spiritual growth. It has a purifying effect, provides harmony, and is protective. It helps with processing trauma and pain. If you wear the stone during the loss of a loved one, it gives extra strength. Moreover, amethyst is the symbol of lovers.
March: Aquamarine
Happiness and harmony – Love – Therapeutic effect
Aquamarine owes its name to its beautiful light blue color. The name is derived from the Latin word for seawater. It is a gemstone found in large pieces, allowing the creation of many beautiful large designs.
Aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March and is most commonly found in countries like Australia, Myanmar, India, and Zambia. An aquamarine is often treated with heat to enhance the color intensity. It is one of the most used stones experimented with for new cutting shapes. Probably because of its name and color, it has always been the protective stone for people working at sea. It is also believed to enhance the happiness of married people.
Additionally, this gemstone has a calming effect, both mentally and physically. It stands for peace and helps with tension and anger. It is an excellent stone to carry during a difficult conversation. It stands for honesty and tolerance, strengthens the immune system, and helps with skin allergies, hay fever, and seasickness.
April: Diamond
Romance – Love – Prosperity – Strength and power – A girl’s best friend!
Diamond is the hardest gemstone and naturally occurring material. A diamond can be colorless, as most people know it, but it is also available in yellow, brown, pink, blue, green, red, and black. You can read more about diamonds on our diamond page. The diamond represents durability because of its hardness. The word diamond comes from the Greek word ‘adamas’, which means invincible. It refers to the fact that the diamond is so hard that it cannot be scratched. Diamond also stands for everlasting love and helps to forge a strong bond between partners, enabling them to withstand adversity. Diamond clears the mind, helps with dizziness and vertigo, and detoxifies the body.
April: Black Diamond
Romance – Love – Prosperity – Strength and power – A girl’s best friend!
A black diamond has a mysterious appearance, and its deep black color fits perfectly in jewelry. The diamond owes its deep black color to the many inclusions that prevent you from seeing through the stone. Apart from the dark color, the stone still sparkles due to the cut facets.
Wearing a black diamond has become more of a trend in recent years. Along with the white diamond, the black diamond is the birthstone for the month of April. Like other gemstones, the diamond also has a healing effect. The energy of the diamond is very powerful and enhances other energies. Black gemstones have a pain-relieving effect and strengthen mental resilience, as does the black diamond.
May: Emerald
Eternal youth – Wisdom – Love and fidelity – Peace – Good for eye ailments
With its intense color, the emerald is one of the most fascinating gemstones. The green color is one of the most beautiful found in nature. The name emerald comes from the Greek name ‘Smaragdos’, which literally means green stone. The emerald is the birthstone for the month of May.
Due to its structure, an emerald has many fracture planes, making it very difficult for the goldsmith to set. An emerald is always first examined with the naked eye. If nothing is seen, the gemstone is graded ‘Flawless’.
The most beautiful emeralds are found in Colombia, hence the most valuable emeralds are sometimes called ‘Colombia Green’. Besides Colombia, the stone is found in Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and the United States.
To improve an emerald, oil is often used. The oil fills the inclusions and fractures, giving the emerald more color intensity and fewer visible inclusions.
When cleaning an emerald, be careful not to use chemicals, as these can remove the oil. The best result is achieved by cleaning the stone with a toothbrush and water. In the past, the emerald was often seen as a sacred stone.
One of the most famous people who loved to wear emeralds was Cleopatra. People at the time believed that an emerald had healing powers and would bring you good luck. Additionally, green gemstones are good for the liver and for healing emotional and physical problems associated with the heart. Emerald banishes negativity and attracts harmony, balance, and beauty. It helps to strengthen memory. It is also believed to have a healing effect on eye problems, back and muscle pain, and to strengthen the immune system.
June: Pearl
Love – Protection – Luck – Wisdom – Modesty – Therapeutic
The pearl is not actually a gemstone but an organic product created by a living creature. There are many stories behind the pearl. For example, the Greeks believed that pearls were the joyful tears of the love goddess Aphrodite. A pearl is a soft organic material and is very vulnerable. Therefore, it is advisable not to let it come into contact with chemicals, cleaning agents, etc.
The white pearl also works positively on physical calcium deficiencies. It gives a sense of contentment, peace, protection, understanding, and tranquility, and strengthens friendships. It is a true bringer of good luck, and it purifies your mind, soul, and aura.
July: Ruby
Love – Passion – Protection against evil – Luck
Ruby, like sapphire, belongs to the corundum family and is only available in red. The most beautiful color of a ruby is often referred to as pigeon blood red. The name ‘Ruby’ is often used to denote the stone and is derived from the Latin word ‘ruber’, which means red.
Ruby is one of the most expensive gemstones in the world and is the birthstone for the month of July. Ruby, along with sapphire, is the hardest gemstone after diamond and has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Ruby is found in countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Australia, and the United States.
In India, ruby is also known as the ‘King of Gemstones’. It has long been believed that a ruby provides protection against misfortune, heartbreak, and poor health, which is why many royal jewels are set with rubies. R
ed gemstones promote good blood circulation and intensify feelings. This stone, which can range from pinkish-red to deep red, is a sensual stone that helps with the treatment of frigidity and impotence. It also fills the wearer with courage, joy, happiness, and spontaneity.
August: Peridot
Vitality – Nature – Inner growth – Soothing – Self-confidence
Peridot is known for its intense (olive) green color. Peridot is also called the stone of the sun. The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover it. Many healing and magical powers are attributed to Peridot. In the past, people would grind Peridot into powder and drink it as medicine.
The stone was believed to protect against nightmares and the evil eye. Peridot is also said to help with asthma and fever. This stone is perfect for combining with trendy clothing. It is the birthstone for the month of August and is found in countries such as the United States, Pakistan, Burma, and Brazil.
Like the emerald, the green color of this gemstone is good for the liver and strengthens the heart. It helps to release negative feelings such as jealousy, bitterness, and hatred, allowing the heart to be open to positive energy. Peridot also strengthens the immune system and helps prevent diseases from recurring. It also helps with skin problems and digestive issues.
September: Sapphire
Wisdom – Purity – Wealth – Immortality – Friendship
Sapphire belongs to the corundum family. Sapphire is a stone that is available in every color except red. Sapphires in other colors are often called Fancy Sapphires, with blue being the most well-known color. Sapphire is also the birthstone for the month of September and is associated with the zodiac signs Taurus and Virgo.
Sapphire is also known as the color of the sky. The stone is found in countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Australia, Thailand, Tanzania, and the United States. For a blue sapphire, the high intensity of blue is the most important factor. This intensity greatly influences the price of the stone and the jewelry. By heating a sapphire, its color can be intensified, and impurities can be removed. Sapphire comes in many colors, each with its own properties.
- Blue sapphire to express yourself and give your opinion. In other words, it stimulates communication. Blue sapphire also has a calming effect.
- Indigo sapphire enhances supernatural awareness.
- Yellow sapphire frees the wearer from negativity and promotes wisdom and intellect. It has a detoxifying effect and stimulates the vascular system.
- Green sapphire brings balance to your heart chakra and strengthens the immune system.
- Pink sapphire brings peace and unconditional love.
- White sapphire opens the crown chakra.
- Purple sapphire helps you on the path to enlightenment.
- Black sapphire is a stone of grounding and protection.
October: Opal
Hope – Invisibility – Stress relief – Creativity – Against nightmares
Opal is a striking stone with beautiful colors. The Romans called opal the ‘Queen of gemstones’ because of the different colors visible in an opal. Opal is a protective gemstone and, like peridot, is said to help against nightmares. This gemstone makes you happy, optimistic, spontaneous, and creative. The stone has a strong connection with love and passion. At DiamondsByMe, we do not work with this gemstone because opal is very fragile. It also does not tolerate bright sunlight or frequent contact with water.
October: Tourmaline
Love – Friendship – Empathy – Creativity – Balance
Tourmaline also comes in many variations. The name is derived from the Sinhalese word ‘tourmali’. This word translates to ‘mixed colored stones’, a fitting name for a versatile stone.
- Blue tourmaline helps with throat, eye, and lung problems.
- Pink tourmaline fills the wearer with love and joy. It is a very suitable friendship stone, but it also helps as a comfort for people who have lost a loved one.
- Yellow tourmaline stimulates intellect and creativity and provides courage.
- Green tourmaline promotes empathy and fills the heart with love. It frees the wearer from trauma, provides balance, and can be used for sleep disorders.
- Black tourmaline provides balance and protects against negative influences. It increases vitality.
November: Citrine
Cleansing – Joy – Happiness – Wonder
Citrine is named after the French word ‘citron’, a word for ‘yellow’. This yellow quartz variety cleanses the heart chakra and induces joy, happiness, enthusiasm, and wonder. It is truly a lucky stone when it comes to material wealth. Citrine also gives the wearer a boost in lethargy.
December: Topaz and Turquoise
Metabolism improvement – Friendship – Increases self-confidence
Topaz comes in various colors, but the most well-known is the beautiful azure blue topaz. This stone speeds up a slow metabolism, increases vitality, attracts friendship, and helps the wearer express themselves. It banishes feelings of insecurity and increases self-confidence.
Turquoise, as the name suggests, is turquoise in color. This stone helps with throat problems and purifies the lungs. It provides balance, calms, and can be worn as protection against negative energy. It also relieves muscle problems, asthma, high blood pressure, and fever.
Zodiac gemstones
Did you know that birthstones can also be specifically linked to your zodiac sign? Because zodiac signs naturally overlap part of one month and part of the next, you can choose between two stones. Below is a list of the different zodiac signs and their corresponding gemstones:
- Zodiac sign Capricorn: Turquoise and Garnet
- Zodiac sign Aquarius: Garnet and Amethyst
- Zodiac sign Pisces: Amethyst and Aquamarine
- Zodiac sign Aries: Aquamarine and Diamond
- Zodiac sign Taurus: Diamond and Emerald
- Zodiac sign Gemini: Emerald and Pearl
- Zodiac sign Cancer: Pearl and Ruby
- Zodiac sign Leo: Ruby and Peridot
- Zodiac sign Virgo: Peridot and Sapphire
- Zodiac sign Libra: Sapphire and Tourmaline
- Zodiac sign Scorpio: Tourmaline and Citrine
- Zodiac sign Sagittarius: Citrine and Turquoise
This gives you more options when ordering a piece of jewelry tailored to the character or birth month of the wearer. It is also very useful when giving a very personal gift tailored to the recipient's birth month or zodiac sign. Or, for example, as a ‘push present’, the so-called ‘baby gold’ that a mother receives in some cultures when she has given birth. A piece of jewelry with the child's birthstone is a fantastic memento of this memorable moment.
So, try it out and create your own piece of jewelry with birthstones via our online configurator. It doesn't get more personal than this!